Arsenal vs Southampton Predicted Starting Eleven
Arsenal take on Southampton looking for their first home win of the new campaign. Here is Pain In the Arsenal’s predicted starting eleven for the match.
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Arsenal and Southampton face off at the Emirates on Match Day Four of this year’s Premier League season.
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Southampton have lost a number of key players for the second season in a row. Ronald Koeman was capable of working through those depletions last year, but Claude Puel will need to prove himself.
One way Puel could do so is in the transfer market. Saints recently went deep into their pockets for LOSC Lille’s Sofiane Boufal, a Moroccan trickster with an eye for goal.
Boufal is a skilled player, but he is not a replacement for Graziano Pelle or Victor Wanyama, two key placers Southampton sold.
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Arsenal, on the other hand, kept most of their talent and added Lucas Perez and Shkodran Mustafi at the end of the window.
The Gunners might have players tired from their international fixtures, but their team has quality options and they are coming off of a solid 3-1 away win at Vicarage Road.
Their defense, provided Mustafi plays, is strong and arguably too strong for Shane Long. Their attack will need to break the Saints’ defense down.
Here is Pain in the Arsenal’s predicted starting XI for the upcoming game.
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech
A simple choice for Arsene Wenger. Petr Cech is undroppable at this moment and he will be needed again, just as he was against Watford in the second half.
Moving along, we get to the defense…
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Defense
Right Back: Hector Bellerin
Arsenal are short of options at right back. As Mathieu Debuchy grows older his pace is no longer what it was. Calum Chambers has left the Emirates for Middlesborough, so Bellerin is the option on that side of defense.
Dusan Tadic will be in Bellerin‘s ear throughout the match and Shane Long will undoubtedly be running in behind. Bellerin will need to keep side-by-side with Long.
Center Back: Rob Holding
Shkodran Mustafi may not be ready to start a match for Arsenal. In this case, Rob Holding is the first option off the bench. Holding has had a solid start and, though he can make errors, he looks reliable at Premier League level.
A good performance at home to contradict the haters that got on his back after the 4-3 to Liverpool would do wonders for Holding‘s reputation.
Center Back: Laurent Koscielny
Frenchman Laurent Koscielny has proved his worth after missing Match Day One. He made some goal-saving stops against Leicester and was solid for most of the Watford match.
Koscielny will be supported greatly by Mustafi but for this upcoming match he will have to be the experienced defender. Remembering Arsenal’s 4-0 loss to Southampton will be important for preparation.
Left Back: Nacho Monreal
Nacho Monreal had a bit of a mystery injury midweek and his form may not be where we would like to see, but it’s still early in the season and there is plenty of time for him to turn that around. Southampton is the perfect target to right the ship.
Next up, the midfield.
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Midfield
Central Midfield: Francis Coquelin
Francis Coquelin missed last week’s team but he will be selected this week to stop the counter-attacks.
Cazorla and Xhaka were in the middle last week and controlled the tempo well. This week, Arsenal will be given room to pass in central midfield – thus, a playmaker can be substituted for a ball-winner. Coquelin will have to work extremely hard for a regular place this year.
Central Midfield: Granit Xhaka
The Swiss international impressed in first 90 minute appearance. His long passing was on display, switching the ball from one flank to another.
Xhaka will need to come up with the goods against a team that is dropping deep when defending. His balls will need to be pin-point, especially those aimed at Olivier Giroud.
Now, where the goals are made. On to the attack.
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Attack
Left Wing: Alexis Sanchez
Alexis was absolutely key in Arsenal’s attacking moves against Watford. He played something like a shadow striker and drifted between the lines, making an impact wherever he was.
That same spatial awareness will be paramount for this fixture, when space will be hard to come by. Southampton often pack the middle of midfield so he will need to challenge Cedric at right-back.
Central Attacking Midfield: Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil was raring to go when his summer vacation ended. He tore Watford apart and looked ready to challenge his assist totals for 2015/16.
The German will definitely be starved of the ball, but he will be able to move wide and play diagonal balls into the box. If Giroud is waiting for those in the center, that could become a goal.
Right Wing: Theo Walcott
Arsene Wenger will keep his faith in Theo Walcott and give him another shot, one of many to come this year.
Walcott didn’t get involved enough in the action against Watford, but he has been getting in some decent positions, which is reassuring. End product is absolutely paramount this year for him.
Striker: Olivier Giroud
Olivier Giroud played with France and may not be ready for this fixture, but provided that he is he will be supported by the five previously mentioned players.
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The Frenchman had a bad miss go viral during the break but hopefully he is ready to go against Southampton.
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